- I‘m a veterinarian, 25 years old, I‘m a political activist since 2005, blogger since 2006, The founder and president of „No for compulsory Military Service“ Movement since April 2009

- I chose to believe in such ideas as a result of my massive readings to several writers from all over the world, especially the age of enlightenment in Europe… Also seeing what militarists, communists, fundamentalists and nationalists did to my country, and how Egypt became a poor dictatorial country because of them … This made me choose to be anti-militarist, Capitalist, Globalist

2) It’s uncommon for pacifists to solidarize themselves with Israel, you already pointed this out in your mail. Have you ever been organised in any pacifist leagues and if so, have you experienced resistance towards your stance concerning that topic?

I haven‘t been organized before in any pacifist organization, as there are no such organizations in Egypt. But I realized that lots of pacifists around the world don‘t like what I say supporting Israel … As I‘m living between Arabs. I know how Arabs treat Non-Muslims; I know how they hate Jews, Christians and Atheists; how they wish to expel all the Israelis out of their land … So, I can‘t ask Israelis not to defend themselves, and to be killed or expelled by Arabs, as what happened to Jews in Arab countries in the 50s.

My country Egypt, fought Israel in 48 aiming to prevent the existence of Israel, prevented Israeli ships from sailing in International waters, prevented passing even food and water to Israelis through its land or water, declared wars on Israel several times, expelled 60 thousand Egyptian Jews in 1956 after stealing all their money … If I didn‘t support the right of Israel to live in peace, I wouldn‘t be able to consider myself a human.

3) How do you experience your own position in Egypt’s society in general? Do you feel that your view can be voiced or do you rather have the impression that there is not much of an interest of the general public in your case, even though you are – as you claim – the first conscientious objector in Egypt?

- When I talk about ending of the obligatory military service, majority of youth supports me, older people disagree with me, the elite honors me but afraid to say that

- When I talk about peace with Israel, most of people reply violently. But I think we are just in the beginning and we need some time to make a stream of Egyptians who wants to co-exist with Israel

- When I talk about Pacifism, the majority of people couldn‘t imagine Egypt without an army in an area containing Iran, Israel, Syria, Ethiopia, Turkey and Others … I think abolishing of the Egyptian army wouldn‘t be possible without abolishing big armies in the area

4) What penalties do you think you are going to face, considering your actions, are you any worried?

According to the law, I could be arrested and led to a military trial which could imprison me for long years. Also, I‘ll be banned from travelling abroad till I reach 30 years. I‘m already banned from travelling abroad for 3 years now (since October 2007), which means 8 years without ability to travel out of Egypt. In addition to all that, I‘ll lose my political rights for the rest of my life, I won‘t be able to run for any political position

- But clearly, Egypt isn‘t a legal state, they can execute me if they wanted, and they could ignore me completely if they wanted… they are ignoring me till now

5) Do you have any connections to organizations both in Egypt and abroad that may help you with upcoming lawsuits?

Till now, I don‘t have any organization supporting me in front of the Egyptian courts. I have lots of Friends in international organizations supporting me (As in War resisters‘ International & The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection). Egyptian organizations is still afraid to support me, and that will be a big problem if i faced a trial in Egypt as I‘ll be alone

6) Could you give us a small insight about how we have to imagine the general social climate in Egypt? What do you think are the pressing problems, politically, socially and in terms of religion?

Egypt passes through lots of changes theses years; including the political system, the public opinion, religious views and lots of other things… There is a big wave of religious fundamentalism, but there is a big wave of Atheism facing it … The country is converting from a military state into a police state, which makes it easy to stand against the army … sure, I can‘t answer that question in a few words.

7) More specifically, how do you think your compatriots judge the so-called middle-east conflict?

Before answering that question we need to know some important information. Egypt isn‘t a free country, no one could establish a political party or a newspaper or a media channel without permission from the governor party… Parties and media permissions are taken from „Shurra Council“ whish headed by a former army officer. The army still controlling the media, and no one could say anything about the army or Israel except the army views…. In the same time, the government and the army want the Egyptians to hate Israel, so the government will appear as an angel in front of Israel and the entire modern world

All of this makes the public know only bad things about Israel; they are affected by the non-neutral media which hide on them any good information about Israel … So, the result of all that, that the majority here see Israelis as a gang of criminals, who hates Moslems and Christians, and make war crimes every day because they are bloody and Nazi, etc… I think we have to let them know the facts about Israel, and I think this will make lots of changes in the Egyptian mentality, and the opinions of Egyptians toward Israel

But there is also an enlightened minority, which sees the reality of Israel as a modern liberal secular state, which respects human rights and International laws, I‘m working with those to try to achieve peace in the area.